Welded spring structure



March 1 1927.

H. A. HOUSTON ET AL WELDED SPRING STRUCTURE Filed March 1, 1922INVENTORS Ham/d R. Housfb'lz YV/cmi' J2 Skepand.

' ATTORNEY 25 propo Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

' UNITED STATES 1,619,346 PATENT ol-"rlcs.

HAROLD A. HOUSTON, O1 WILEINSBURG, AND VICTOR J". SHEPARD, OI PITTSBUBGE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURINGCOIPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

wnnnnn srnnte s'rnucrunn. 7

Application filed larch 1, 1922. serial No. 540,867.

Our invention relates to resilient bodies, more especially to s ringstructures, such as are employed in exible driving mechanisms ofelectric locomotives.

8 It is among the objects of this mvention to provide a spring member ofsimple construction which shall be inexpensive to manufacture, ofuniform quality, mechanically strong and durable and adaptedto heavyduty use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a spring-neststructure comprising a pluralit of s ring elements which shall be securetoget er at one end to form a unitary structure.

It has been customary to form resilient members by superposing aplurality of leaf springs of different lengths and securing them midwaybetween their ends by suit able bolts, rivets or brackets to form aunitary structure which is employed to provide a resilient supportbetween a vehicle body 7 'and its bed frame.

According to ourpresent invention, we so to employ spring-nests ofsomewhat similar construction that are adapted to be -emplo ed as spokesbetween a hub member of a d rive shaft and the working rim of a gearwheel as described in the copending apao plication of H. A. Houston,Serial No. 574,-

:311, filed July 11, 1922, which has matured into Patent No. 1,451,576issued April 10, 1923 assigned to the Westinghouse Electric- &Manufacturing Company. As described 36 in this application, the springsare constructed to receive a cantilever load and may 'be modified indesign to obtain any degree of flexing desired.

In the accompanying drawings constitut ing a part hereof and in whichlike reference characters designate like parts,

Figure 1 is a front elevational viewof a spring-nest formed inaccordance with our invention; I Fig. 2 is a side elevational viewthereof; Fi 3 is a cross-sectional view of a base mem r embodied in thestructure of Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are front elevational 0 views of modified forms ofspring-nest structures made in accordance-with this invention;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of 9.

portions 12 and grooves 13 and 14, which modified form of springcomprising a plurality of assembled leaves having a band formed aroundone end thereof;

gig. 9 is a side elevational view thereof; an

Fig. 10 isa front elevational view of a spring-nest comprising aplurality of spring leaves welded at one end to provide a unitarystructure.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and2, our preferred form ofspring-nest structure comprises a substantially cylindrical base member1 having a relatively wide slot 2 with parallel sides 3 formed therein,in which a plurality of spring leaves 4 of varying length are grouped insuch manner as to provide a gap 5 therebetween. The/70 assembled leaves4 are inserted in the slot 2 of the basemember 1 and secured therein bywelding along the edges 6 at the base'of the leaves 4 and slot 2. It maybe desirable to further reinforce the structure by an anchor rod such asa dowel pin or screw 7 extending through the base member 1 and theleaves 4.

Another method of securing the spring leaves 4 to the base 1 is shown inFig. 4. It consists in welding the leaves along their edges on bothsides and partially across the face of the base 1. To insure a goodWeld, it is advisable to cut a groove 8 in the springs to obtain betteradhesion of the welded 8 metal, which is deposited therein, to thestructure.

Still another method of securing the spring leaves 4 to the base isshown in Fig. 5, where the leaves are Welded along the groove 9 acrossthe bottom edges of the blades and the grooves 10 and 11, which areformed across certain of the leaves and partially across the basemember. Either of. these structures, Figs. 4 and 5, may be strengthenedby an anchor rod or dowel pin 7, as in the structure shown in Fig. 2.

I Fig. 6 is shown a structure in which the spring leaves are retained byreason of their interlocking relation. This arrange. ment consists of abase member 1 having a substantially V-shape slot radially therein, thesides of which are provided with ofl-setare adapted to receive aplurality of superposed L-shape spring leaves, having their turned-upends abutting to form an interlocked structure.

As shown in Fig. 7, we may employ another type of combined mechanicaland welded structure which consists of a base member 1 having a dovetailslot 15 provided with a central wedge portion 16 which may be insertedinto or comprise an integral part of the base. The spring leaves 4; areassembled in the base by forcing them into the slot so that their endsbecome distorted by the Wedge 16 to fit the dovetail. The leaves arethen secured by a weld 18 along the top of the wedge 16 between thecentral leaves and along the bottom edge '17.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown another modification of our invention in whicha springnest structure consisting of a plurality of spring leaves 4 isprovided with a band 19 secured to the ends of the leaves by Welddeposits .20 and 21. The free ends of the outer leaves 4. are providedwith bands 22 to provide a more rigid support and to protect theengaging ends against wear when assembled between the hub and rim of agear wheel.

In Fig. 10 is shown a simplified form of spring-nest comprising 'aplurality of spring leaves 4 welded along their base 23 and reinforcedby an anchor rod 7. This structure is adapted for use without a base andit may be inserted in slots of suitable dimensions in the hubs offlexible gear wheels.

Spring-nest made in accordance with'the above description are adapted t6be fitted nto correspondingly shaped slots or openings near the outerperiphery of a central hub support of a gear wheel and the pro- ]ectingends are fitted into correspondingly shaped slots of the gear rim whichis disposed. around the outer periphery of the ub. It will be readilyseen that the advantages of this type of spring construction are thatthey may be readily assembled and removed from the gear structurewithout disturbing any of its parts and that the method of forming thespring-nests is simple and inexpensive and is readily controllable toinsure uniform quality of the ipiring with respect to size, stress, andthe Although we have described a specific embodiment of our invention itwill be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modificationsmay be made in the details of construction thereof. For instance, thebases of the spring-nest maybe either of cylindrical or rectangularshape or entirely omitted. The strength of the springs may be varied bvarying the thickness and length of t e leaves employed and the methodof securing the spring 1n the base may be accomplished in varlous Wa s,as indicated. by the modifications s own.

These and other changes may be made in the details of constructionwithout departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A spring-nest comprising a cylindrical base member and a plurality ofspring leaves united therewith by anchor rods.

2. A spring-nest comprising a base member and a plurality of springleaves united therewith by anchor rods and welding.

3. A spring-nest comprising a base mem-- 6. A spring-nest comprising abase member and a pluralit of superposed spring leaves, said leavesaving one of their extended ends welded to said base member to form anintegral structure.

7. A spring-nest comprising a substantially cylindrical base memberhaving a slot therein and a plurality of flat spring leaves fitted insaid slot and secured to said base member by welding to produce anintegral structure.

8. A spring-nest comprising a substantially cylindrical base memberhaving a slot therein and a plurality of flat spring leaves fitted insaid slot and secured thereto by welding.

9. A spring-nest comprising a substantially cylindrical base memberhaving a relatively wide slot therein, and a plural ty of spring leavesof different lengths (llS- posed in said slot and secured to said base.

10. A spring-nest comprising a substantially cylindrical base memberhaving a relatively wide slot therein, and a plurality of spring leavesof different lengths, d1sposed in said slot and secured to sa1d basemember by welding.

11. A s ring-nest comprising a substantially cylindrical base memberhaving a relatively wide slot therein, and a plurality of spring leavesof different lengths disposed in said slot and, secured to said basemember by welding along the edges of said slot.

12. A s ring-nest comprising a substantially cylindrical base memberhaving a relatively wide slot therein, a plurality of spring leaves ofdifi'erent lengths, said leaves being secured to said base member bywelding along the edges of said slot and said leaves.

13. A spring-nest comprising a substanspring leaves of different lengthsdisposed tially cylindrical base member having a in said slot and,secured to said base memrelatively wide slot therein, 'a plurality ofher by welding along the edges of said slot spring leaves of differentlengths disposed and said leaves, "and a steel band around 15 6 insaidslot and, secured to said base memthe ends of certain of saidleaves.

her by Welding alon the edges of said slot In testimony whereof, we havehereunto and said leaves, an a steel band around subscribed our namesthis 25th day of certain of said leaves. February, 1922.

14- A s ring-nest comprising a substan 10 tially cyhndrical base memberhaving a HAROLD A. HOUSTON. relatively wide slot therein, a plurality ofVICTOR J. SHEPARD.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,619,346. Granted March 1.1927, to

HAROLD A. HOUSTON ET AL.

It is hereby: certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,line 126, claim 12, after the word "therein", insert the word "and";same claim,' lines 127 and 128, strike out the words "said leaves being"and insert-instead "disposed in said slot and"; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with these cor rections therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Pat- 'ent Office.

' Signed and sealed this 29th day of March, A. D. 1927.

. 7 M. J. Moore Seal. Acting Commissioner of Patents.

